Reader Response Approach for Enhancing Literary Comprehension in an EFL Context

Abstract

This article examines the impact of Reader Response Approach (RRA) on learners’ autonomy in interpreting literary texts in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes. The research involved graduate-level students and teachers from two public universities of Nepal, through Participatory Action Research (PAR). Data were gathered from two Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), twelve classroom observations, and two Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), involving a total of 54 participants. The analysis, based on the principles of socio-constructivism, revealed that RRA-based classes provided students with greater freedom and ample opportunities to engage in discussions on literary texts, connecting them to their personal beliefs and values by fostering their active participation.